Pope stresses compassion, tolerance

Much speculation was made nationally and globally about a recent statement by Pope Francis I on homosexuality and faith. But here in Acadiana, there wasn't much reaction.

Local residents in this largely Catholic community seem to have placed his comment in proper context, and are perhaps waiting to see more from this pope before considering him a revolutionary.

The pope made his now-famous off-the cuff remarks during a flight on the papal plane on his way back to Rome from Brazil. His comment came in response to a question from reporters about a "gay lobby" at the Vatican.

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" he responded.

But it is not likely an endorsement of gay rights, as some seem to hope, but a simple message of tolerance.

Though his reaction might not indicate the dramatic shift that some are reading into it, it is one more example that this is a different kind of pope.

Pope Francis I also displayed a mischievous sense of humor when he said, "There's a lot of talk about the gay lobby, but I've never seen it on the Vatican ID card."

This is a sharp departure from the aggressively traditional papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. In 2005, the Vatican issued a directive that barred men with "homosexual tendencies" from the priesthood.

In contrast, the new pope went on to say homosexuals are "our brothers" and should not be marginalized.

Pope Francis' words have been called revolutionary. That is yet to be seen. For now, his words are carefully watched.

In his homily during a recent Mass in Rome, the pope declared that every person - including atheists - has been redeemed through Jesus Christ, if they "do good and not evil."

Revolutionary? He backed up his assertion with an example from the Book of Mark, in which Jesus contradicted his disciples' elitist attitude that only they, who had the truth, could "do good."

Pope Francis has chastised Latin American priests who refused to baptize the babies of unwed mothers. He has appointed eight cardinals to look into reform, including whether divorced Catholics should be allowed to receive Communion, which they currently may not do. He has spoken of a greater role for women in the church, although he stopped short of saying women should be allowed into the priesthood.

He espouses the cause of the poor and disenfranchised. He lives a life of simplicity, eschewing the luxury and grandeur of his station.

The Vicar of Christ strives to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

Regarding the pope's recent comments on gay people, the Rev. Chester Arceneaux, pastor of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, said nothing has changed.

"What has changed is our ability to address this with love," he said, adding the Gospel "teaches tolerance."

Francis' comments reflect the teachings of Christ, he said, "that God's love is for all of us."

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor at America, a New York Catholic magazine, said in an article on CNN.com, that through his statement, the pontiff has "once again lived out the Gospel message of compassion for everyone" and the comments "revealed a great mercy."

Compassion. Mercy. Tolerance. These are recurring themes in the early stages of this papacy.

The pope has indicated he prefers bishops who are pastors who can relate to the faithful, not "princes" who rule them in authoritarian fashion.

Pope Francis, by his words, his example and his life, has emphasized acceptance and outreach, even for those who have traditionally been shunned. He speaks for those who feel "abandoned by the church," as Arceneaux puts it. This pope embraces everyone, apparently without condition.

It may seem revolutionary, but there is a precedent. It was set more than 2,000 years ago.

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Pope stresses compassion, tolerance

Much speculation was made nationally and globally about a recent statement by Pope Francis I on homosexuality and faith. But here in Acadiana, there wasn't much reaction.